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Low End Sedans (under $16k)

3871 messages,  Last post on Dec 30, 2011 at 10:54 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota ECHO, Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio, Nissan Sentra, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, Kia Spectra, Suzuki Forenza, Sedan

Messages Page 277 of 388

#2753 of 3871 Re: spectraman, your 2004.5 Kia Spectra [iluvmysephia1] by backy

Nov 05, 2004 (6:53 am)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 04, 2004 9:39 pm)
No, haven't drive the tC yet but it will be on my shopping list when I buy my next car. But it's more likely that next car will be something in the low-end class. I am particularly excited about the Honda Jazz/Fit coming here next year, and there will be some other great small cars available when I go buying in 2006, including the Mazda3i, the Spectra (but still don't like that seat height adjuster), and (probably) next-gen Accent, Rio, Elantra, Civic, Sentra, Neon.

#2754 of 3871 The Jazz/Fit is coming as well as by iluvmysephia1

Nov 05, 2004 (10:28 am)

a new Nissan microcar called Micra. It may be 2006 before the U.S. sees it. I like the new Scion tC in Black Cherry Pearl but my wife will probably want to stay SUV in our next purchase. I plan on harping on the tC's many fine attributes and see what she thinks next year about a trade, maybe in the early summer or late spring. I like the tC's styling and it's 2.4L 160 horse 4 cylinder engine, and the fact that one can go 0-60 in 7.4 seconds in one. I also like it's stereo and moonroof. I really wish Kia would get with it and put out a sports coupe. I know it would look awesome and be built well. Their planners must have bigger fish to fry, like the new Mojave pickup truck. Kia is very busy these days, I mean very busy. It's a great consumer car shopping time, if you keep it foreign, that is.

#2755 of 3871 by soccermom4

Nov 05, 2004 (7:20 pm)

My husband needs a car to take him 7 miles to the train station in the morning and then back home at night. We are mostly looking for the lowest monthly lease payment for a car that will sit in a train station all day. I was looking at the Kia Rio (2004 or 2005). Any opinions or better suggestions? Thanks!

#2756 of 3871 Re: [soccermom4] by backy

Nov 05, 2004 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: soccermom4 (Nov 05, 2004 7:20 pm)
Are you looking for the lowest LEASE payment, or the lowest PAYMENT? A Rio is probably not the best bet for the lowest lease payment, because it has pretty high depreciation. But since it's one of the lowest-priced cars around, it would have a low payment if you purchased it. Another good bet in a new car if you want a low payment is a '04 Aveo, which IMO is a better car than the Rio, especially in 5-door form, and can be had for around $7500 in base-model form (big rebate on the '04s). But that's w/o air or much else. For driving to/from the train, what else do you need, eh? The Accent (base model again) is also sometimes on sale for under $8000 and is a nice little car, between the Rio and Aveo IMO.
 
If you are looking for a low lease payment, you might actually be better off with a more expensive car that has lower depreciation, like a Honda Civic DX or VP. I've seen lease payments around $150/month on those. But when the lease is up, you have no equity. You'd pay about the same on a Rio or Aveo but after five years, the car would be worth a few thousand dollars.
 
Actually, for driving to the train station 14 miles a day, I'd get a used car. You could pick up a late-model Accent or Rio for $5000 or less, still under warranty, pay a little over $100/month and pay the thing off in four years.

#2757 of 3871 I agree, I'd go with used on that one... by iluvmysephia1

Nov 06, 2004 (10:15 pm)

the whole trip is so short and that way you'd have less to lose in a theft, etc. No need to worry about dents really, either, IMO, if it's used. That's one thing that gets old if your car is new or fairly new, that of getting door dings and such. I notice that the new 2005 Scion tC I want to trade for has no side moulding(as a good sports coupe shouldn't)and one would need to park at least 10 spaces away from everyone else in parking lots to protect it. Yep, that's what I'm talkin' about, man.
 
Another tasty little tidbit I noticed on the tC is that it has 4-wheel disc brakes as well as ABS all around, for extra braking safety. The car is loaded with nice little surprises like this. It's getting harder to look at any other rig seriously, the more I look the better the little sports coupe with the 45 degree reclining rear seats and moonroof with fixed glass roof in the back looks.

#2758 of 3871 Re: I agree, I'd go with used on that one... [iluvmysephia1] by backy

Nov 07, 2004 (11:27 am)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 06, 2004 10:15 pm)
Looking at any low-end sedans lately, or have you "graduated" to the sport coupe market?

#2759 of 3871 I'm not really looking seriously at anything by iluvmysephia1

Nov 07, 2004 (3:22 pm)

right now, except the 2005 Kia Sportage or the 2005 Scion tC. I guess neither is a "low-end" sedan, is it? I suppose I'm interested in the Chevrolet Aveo sedan and hatch. I also kind of like the new 2006 Nissan Micra, although I doubt I'd ever buy one. It's awfully small.

#2760 of 3871 Any opinions on how Aveo quality is shaking out? by jojomonkeyboy

Nov 16, 2004 (6:54 pm)

This article is almost a year old but I love the quote from Mike Allen:
 
"We dealt with quality right up front," says Mike Allen, vehicle line director for GM Daewoo Automotive Technology. "We gave them a quality target equal to Chevrolet's average, and then we gave them a stretch target of the best in segment, which is the Toyota Echo."
 
from USA today 1/7/204
 
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-01-07-autoshowcov_x.htm
 
I own an ECHO and I bought it because after the research that I did, it was and is my opinion that the ECHO is probably the most problem free of the little sedans. But I paid a premium for that reputation of quality... The 2004 Aveos and Rios are really inexpensive right now. We're thinking about getting an Aveo, an Accent or a Rio for my mother-in-law. The typical little old lady who only drives her car on the weekend to go shopping and to go to church. She's driving a Ford Fairmont that barely starts, barely runs, and barely stops.

#2761 of 3871 Re: [soccermom4] by explorerx4

Nov 16, 2004 (7:05 pm)

Replying to: soccermom4 (Nov 05, 2004 7:20 pm)
give him a ride to the station in the morning and a kiss good bye.

#2762 of 3871 irony about the Aveo... by jpryba

Nov 16, 2004 (9:19 pm)

Although some other Chevrolet models have some better materials in their interiors, I would say that the Aveo's interior is assembled with more care and with tighter tolerances. Granted, we're still talking about a $10K car, but the build quality seems more impressive on the Aveo, relatively speaking, than in other GM models costing 2 or even 3 times as much. Anyone else agree with this?

Messages Page 277 of 388

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